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The Macpherson/Paterson versionThe melody of the most commonly sung version is based on a popular tune called ‘Craigielee’, (the spelling of the title varies), originally a Scottish song set to music by James Barr, with words by Robert Tannahill (view image). Christina Macpherson, a squatter’s daughter and amateur musician, heard ‘Craigielee’ at a band performance at the Warrnambool races in 1894 and committed it to memory. The tune, and it seems, Christina herself, inspired Banjo Paterson to write words for the appealing melody when they met at Dagworth homestead in northern Queensland in January 1895. |
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